Man denies robbing woman at knife-point, granted bail

A man from Ta’ Xbiex yesterday denied robbing a woman at knifepoint at her home in Testaferrata Street, Gżira, on 16 September.

Christopher El Shoushani, 43, appeared in the dock before Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo yesterday afternoon accused of theft aggravated by violence, value and place. He was also charged with detaining the woman against her will, carrying a weapon during the commission of a theft, carrying a knife in public without a police permit and relapsing.

El Shoushani, who told the court that he worked as a cook, pleaded not guilty. His lawyer, Shazoo Ghaznavi, requested bail.

Inspectors Joseph Mercieca and Colin Sheldon, prosecuting, objected to bail due to the risk of the man tampering with evidence as he lived close to the victim and one of the principal witnesses, although they conceded that he had obeyed his police bail conditions to the letter.

Ghaznavi suggested that bail conditions could be made sufficiently tight as to prevent him from absconding. “There is an allegation that he went and took this person’s money. Trustworthiness is not something I can go into at this stage, but he’s Maltese and in employment.”

The court granted El Shoushani bail against a personal guarantee of €10,000, ordering him to sign the bail book three times a week and observe a curfew. A protection order was issued in favour of the victim.